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Four Van Halen solos

Here I am doing four Van Halen solos. As always, the disclaimer is, "I swear I play this stuff better when a camera isn't on!" But if I play them that way, you can't see and hear it. Also, I learned these by ear around 2003, before YouTube, so I didn't refer to all the tutorials that are out there now. You might disagree with how I'm playing them, but it's how I heard them. No tab books, either.

I'm playing through my Pod 2.0 and using a Bad Monkey pedal to hopefully give a soft, analog edge to the Pod. This isn't a golden tone, but good enough for demonstration purposes. Doug Steele and all those fleet-fingered 16 year old girls covering John Petrucci can rest easy, though.

Two takes are included of some of them so you can get into whichever one you like better.

Here I am doing four Van Halen solos. As always, the disclaimer is, "I swear I play this stuff better when a camera isn't on!" But if I play them that way, you can't see and hear it. Also, I learned these by ear around 2003, before YouTube, so I didn't refer to all the tutorials that are out there now. You might disagree with how I'm playing them, but it's how I heard them. No tab books, either.

I'm playing through my Pod 2.0 and using a Bad Monkey pedal to hopefully give a soft, analog edge to the Pod. This isn't a golden tone, but good enough for demonstration purposes. Doug Steele and all those fleet-fingered 16 year old girls covering John Petrucci can rest easy, though.

Two takes are included of some of them so you can get into whichever one you like better.

I don't practice, I just play!

That's some very nice playing, Art!

"There's too many people on this basketball that's floating around the sun, who are too afraid to allow themselves to FEEL" - Edward Van Halen
"Van Halen was never about the singer..." - A very wise fan.
"Embrace the past. Live in the moment but keep your eyes on the future, and keep on moving forward..." - Richie Sambora

This video has absolutely set the internet on fire, and I've been given the Jacob Deraps slot at the next Montreux Jazz Festival! Dweezil's on the phone saying I'm his new best friend! Soon I'll premier my new single, "Blow Me!"

Not!

Clearly there are people out there playing this stuff and more complicated things far better than I ever could, but I felt like getting out of the Jimmy Page box and playing the pointy headstock guitars and showing I could do at least a little Eddie. After this I looked at some Doug Steele videos (where did that guy go?) and from what I could tell, the way I play "On Fire" may actually be more involved! He shows it as something like the "I'm the One" 16-17-19 lick being played chromatically starting at the fourth fret, where I'm playing modes starting with an E Dorian on the fifth string (I feel smart when I say that...that's about the end of my music theory knowledge).

I also realized I've underappreciated these guitars. They play great and are very comfortable.

Yeah, I knew this wouldn't give Russ Parish anything to worry about. But for a guy who's never really seriously practiced, ever, it was okay.

I've realized that despite a love for watching guitar videos on YouTube, browsing guitars on Craigsist and visiting guitar stores weekly, my actual playing is usually limited to putting some food in the microwave, grabbing the nearest guitar and playing the "Cheap Sunglasses" riff until it's done, and that's it.

I'm still dying to get some quality vocals on my tunes and produce some finished songs, though.

I felt REALLY good after I saw this. Phil X has some clunks in the "Somebody Get Me a Doctor" solo. Yet he plays for Bon Jovi in arenas! So this means no matter what anyone thinks, my performance was arena quality.

Yeah, I knew this wouldn't give Russ Parish anything to worry about. But for a guy who's never really seriously practiced, ever, it was okay.

I've realized that despite a love for watching guitar videos on YouTube, browsing guitars on Craigsist and visiting guitar stores weekly, my actual playing is usually limited to putting some food in the microwave, grabbing the nearest guitar and playing the "Cheap Sunglasses" riff until it's done, and that's it.

I'm still dying to get some quality vocals on my tunes and produce some finished songs, though.

Ah, for never practicing VH that was real good, Art!

Nah dude, that solo you did with the Tele was real good. And the licks you do in that style are really cool.
You're way better than you think.

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